Isinulat ni Lakbay Diwa
 Pagsanjan Falls |
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I had joined the Pagsanjan Falls expedition with my officemates together with their friends. They had decided to take Rizal - Laguna Route. As part of the itinerary, my officemates and I met at EDSA - Crossing (in front of Mercury Drug Store beside Teleperformance Shaw Blvd.). We left Metro Manila around 4:00 AM via Rizal. We were drop-off by means of Jeepney at Cainta Junction around 4:40 AM where we met our other companions. Again, we rode a Jeepney via Cainta, Rizal going to Siniloan, Laguna. During our travel at Sierra Madre Mountain main road, we felt dizzy due to the zigzag road. However, we had enjoyed the landscape view of an island (I guessed it's the Talim Island where Mt. Tagapo rested) from Laguna de Bay. Approximately, we arrived at Siniloan Public Market around 6:32 AM and from there, we bought our packed foods and had a little time for comforts.
We took a Jeepney and we arrived at Pagsanjan Town Proper at exactly 7:48 AM. Unfortunately, a bad weather approached us. From there, a man who was introduced himself as the head of the boatman told us that the management of Pagsanjan Falls from Cavinti would not allowed us to have a trek caused by the extreme level of the water and slippery trails. Furthermore, a man offered us a service fee via boat/kayak ride for Php 500.00 per head. For us, it was very weird. If we can't have a trek via Cavinti due to the bad weather, what more about via river? We had just thanks him for all of his concerns but we had decided to trek via Cavinti. There's a Jeepneys bound to Lucban and Cavinti. We took a Jeepney going to Cavinti and told the driver to drop us at the terminal for Pueblo El Salvador Nature's Park and from there we took tricycle. We arrived at the registration area at exactly 8:29AM.
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After paying a Php 270.00 for Pueblo EL Salvador Entrance, Environmental and Guide ship Fee, we started our trek to the falls. Approximately, after a 15 mins – 20 mins concrete-paved trek, we entered the forest. We started to hear the splashing sound of the water from the water falls. After a couple of minutes of trekking, the steel ladder trek started at the Statue of El Pueblo. Also in that place, we wore our harness for the preparation for the vertical part of the trek. During that time, it was very difficult because the trail was so slippery. The stairs are getting sharp and steeper until finally we reached the stunning beauty of Pagsanjan Falls. Although the water seems like chocolate due to the rain, the essence of beauty of the Pagsanjan Falls was still there. Unfortunately, they won’t allow us to swim because of the extreme level of water.
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For more Pagsanjan Falls images, just click here.
PAGSANJAN FALLS (MAGDAPIO FALLS) Actual Itinerary via Rizal - Laguna Route
(Courtesy of : Kaskas Mountaineer)
August 09. 2013
04:31 AM Meet-up at Siniloan Jeepney Terminal at Robinson' s Cainta-Junction.
04:40 AM ETD Robinson' s Cainta Junction to Siniloan.
06:32 AM ETA Siniloan Terminal near Wet Market, Buy Packed Lunch.
07:08 AM ETD Siniloan, Head to Pagsanjan via Sta Cruz jeepney.
07:48 AM ETA Pagsanjan Proper. Board Cavinti bound jeepney.
08:18 AM ETA Cavinti-Luisiana Road, Take Trike to Pueblo EL Salvador Cavinti Nature's Park &
Picnic Grove.
08:29 AM ETA Pueblo EL Salvador Cavinti Nature's Park & Picnic Grove, Rest, Take Brunch.
10:00 AM Start Trek, Rappel.
10:30 AM ETA Magdapio Falls (a.k.a. Pagsanjan Falls), Photo-ops.
12:20 PM ETD Magdapio Falls, Start Back Track.
01:23 PM ETA Pueblo EL Salvador Cavinti Nature's Park & Picnic Grove, Rest, Snacks, Tidy up.
02:15 PM ETD Pueblo EL Salvador Cavinti Nature's Park & Picnic Grove, Take Trike to Cavinti
Luisiana Road.
02:23 PM ETA Cavinti-Luisiana Road, Board Pagsanjan bound Jeepney.
02:48 PM ETA Pagsanjan Town Proper, Board Siniloan bound Jeepney.
03:32 PM ETA Siniloan, Post-Climb @ Jollibee-Siniloan.
04:15 PM ETD Siniloan, Take Jeep to Cainta-Junction.
05:56 PM ETA Taytay. Home Sweet Home :D
***First trip to Siniloan, 04:00 @ Cainta-Junction
***Get the phone number of the trike driver so they can fetch you from Pueblo EL Salvador to
Cavinti.
*** You can take the Cubao-Sta Cruz Route or Rizal-Laguna Route. In this IT we prefer the Rizal
Laguna Route.
*** Last Trip of Bus in Sta Cruz to Cubao is 7pm.
EXPENSES:
Robinson' s Cainta Junction to Siniloan (P83.00/pax) via Jeepney
Siniloan Terminal to Pagsanjan (P30.00/pax) via Jeepney
Pagsanjan to Cavinti (P15.00/pax) via Jeepney
Cavinti to Pueblo EL Salvador Cavinti Nature's Park & Picnic Grove (P100.00/3pax)
Pueblo EL Salvador Entrance, Environmental, Guideship Fee (P270.00/pax)
Total Expenses: Php 592.00/Pax
***Exclusive of Food ****
PAGSANJAN FALLS (MAGDAPIO FALLS) Actual Itinerary via Manila - Laguna Route
0500 Take bus to Sta. Cruz
0730 ETA Sta. Cruz, take jeep to Cavinti
0830 At Cavinti, take tricycle to Cavinti Eco Park, Brgy. Tibatib
0900 ETA Eco Park, register
0930 Start trek to Nakulo Falls and viewdecks
1000 Proceed to steel ladder rappel
1030 ETA Madgapio Falls; proceed to raft through falls
1130 Proceed to Pagsanjan by boat
1215 ETA Pagsanjan / Lunch
1330 Head back to bus terminal in Sta. Cruz
1430 ETD Green Star bus for Buendia or HM Transport for Cubao
1500 Back in Manila
PAGSANJAN FALLS (MAGDAPIO FALLS) Actual Itinerary via Rizal - Laguna Route
(Courtesy of : Kaskas Mountaineer)
August 09. 2013
04:31 AM Meet-up at Siniloan Jeepney Terminal at Robinson' s Cainta-Junction.
04:40 AM ETD Robinson' s Cainta Junction to Siniloan.
06:32 AM ETA Siniloan Terminal near Wet Market, Buy Packed Lunch.
07:08 AM ETD Siniloan, Head to Pagsanjan via Sta Cruz jeepney.
07:48 AM ETA Pagsanjan Proper. Board Cavinti bound jeepney.
08:18 AM ETA Cavinti-Luisiana Road, Take Trike to Pueblo EL Salvador Cavinti Nature's Park &
Picnic Grove.
08:29 AM ETA Pueblo EL Salvador Cavinti Nature's Park & Picnic Grove, Rest, Take Brunch.
10:00 AM Start Trek, Rappel.
10:30 AM ETA Magdapio Falls (a.k.a. Pagsanjan Falls), Photo-ops.
12:20 PM ETD Magdapio Falls, Start Back Track.
01:23 PM ETA Pueblo EL Salvador Cavinti Nature's Park & Picnic Grove, Rest, Snacks, Tidy up.
02:15 PM ETD Pueblo EL Salvador Cavinti Nature's Park & Picnic Grove, Take Trike to Cavinti
Luisiana Road.
02:23 PM ETA Cavinti-Luisiana Road, Board Pagsanjan bound Jeepney.
02:48 PM ETA Pagsanjan Town Proper, Board Siniloan bound Jeepney.
03:32 PM ETA Siniloan, Post-Climb @ Jollibee-Siniloan.
04:15 PM ETD Siniloan, Take Jeep to Cainta-Junction.
05:56 PM ETA Taytay. Home Sweet Home :D
***First trip to Siniloan, 04:00 @ Cainta-Junction
***Get the phone number of the trike driver so they can fetch you from Pueblo EL Salvador to
Cavinti.
*** You can take the Cubao-Sta Cruz Route or Rizal-Laguna Route. In this IT we prefer the Rizal
Laguna Route.
*** Last Trip of Bus in Sta Cruz to Cubao is 7pm.
EXPENSES:
Robinson' s Cainta Junction to Siniloan (P83.00/pax) via Jeepney
Siniloan Terminal to Pagsanjan (P30.00/pax) via Jeepney
Pagsanjan to Cavinti (P15.00/pax) via Jeepney
Cavinti to Pueblo EL Salvador Cavinti Nature's Park & Picnic Grove (P100.00/3pax)
Pueblo EL Salvador Entrance, Environmental, Guideship Fee (P270.00/pax)
Total Expenses: Php 592.00/Pax
***Exclusive of Food ****
PAGSANJAN FALLS (MAGDAPIO FALLS) Actual Itinerary via Manila - Laguna Route
0500 Take bus to Sta. Cruz
0730 ETA Sta. Cruz, take jeep to Cavinti
0830 At Cavinti, take tricycle to Cavinti Eco Park, Brgy. Tibatib
0900 ETA Eco Park, register
0930 Start trek to Nakulo Falls and viewdecks
1000 Proceed to steel ladder rappel
1030 ETA Madgapio Falls; proceed to raft through falls
1130 Proceed to Pagsanjan by boat
1215 ETA Pagsanjan / Lunch
1330 Head back to bus terminal in Sta. Cruz
1430 ETD Green Star bus for Buendia or HM Transport for Cubao
1500 Back in Manila
Pagsanjan Falls
Pagsanjan Falls (indigenous name: Magdapio Falls) is one of the most famous waterfalls in the Philippines. Located in the province of Laguna, the falls is one of the major tourist attractions of the region. The three-drop waterfall is reached by a river trip on dugout canoe, known locally as Shooting the rapids, originating from the municipality of Pagsanjan. The falls can also be reached from the top by a short hike from Cavinti. The boat ride has been an attraction since the Spanish Colonial Era with the oldest written account in 1894. The town of Pagsanjan lies at the confluence of two rivers, the Balanac River and the Bumbungan River (also known as the Pagsanjan River).
Location
The main falls of Pagsanjan are actually located within the boundaries of Cavinti, Laguna, but the more popular access by canoes originates from the town of Pagsanjan. A unsuccessful move by the ruling body of the town of Cavinti was submitted to the Sangguniang Bayan (legislature of municipalities in the Philippines) on February 10, 2009 proposing the renaming of the falls to Cavinti Falls.
National Park
The falls and gorge were declared as a National Park with Proc. 392 on March 29, 1939 and Proc. 1551 on March 31, 1976. The Pagsanjan Gorge National Park covers an area of 152.64 hectares (377.2 acres).
Legend
According to history, the Pagsanjan Falls is rich in legendary lore. Long, long ago, recounts one legend, there were no falls. There were only the foliaged highlands, the twin rivers called Bumbungan and Balanac, and the alluvial delta where the town of Pagsanjan now nestles. On the eastern bank of the Bumbungan River lived two old brothers named Balubad and Magdapio. For many years, the two brothers enjoyed a rustic life of peace and happiness. But one day calamity struck. A terrible drought brought ruin and death; no rains came for successive months. The soil became dry as tinder. The blooming flowers and food plants withered and died. The birds, deer, wild hogs, monkeys, and other animals disappeared. The rivers, creeks, and mineral springs dried up. Not a single drop of life-giving rain fell from heaven.
Balubad and Magdapio suffered immensely. Day and night, they prayed for rain, but the gods did not heed their prayers. The older and weaker of the two brothers, Balubad, died of thirst. Magdapio, with a sorrowing heart, buried him on the slope of the mountain overlooking the river delta. This mountain is now called Balubad.
Left alone in a waterless world, Magdapio agonizingly trekked to the upper region of the arid riverbed. He reached the high rocky cliffs, after an arduous journey. But to his utter disappointment, he found no water.
"Ye gods!" he sobbed bitterly, "Where is the water?" In despair, he angrily hurled down his big cane among the rocks.
Suddenly, a spring bubbled on the spot where the cane fell. Rapidly it grew bigger. The fresh waters roared down the canyon walls, soon becoming a booming waterfall. Amazed at the miracle, Magdapio fell on his knees and thanked the gods. He drank the cool water until he felt new energy surging in his blood. Thus emerged the falls of Pagsanjan.
Access to the falls
Pagsanjan
The most popular way of reaching the falls is through the Shooting the rapids boat ride, which originates from any of the resorts along Bumbungan and Balanac Rivers. Two skilled and licensed boatmen takes one to three passengers on a wooden or fiberglass, long, narrow canoes to the falls, which could take more than an hour of paddling upstream depending on traffic and water level. The journey takes passengers through the narrow and verdant Pagsanjan Gorge lined with huge boulders, rocks and small waterfalls. The ride upstream ends in a natural pool below the falls where an optional raft ride takes visitors through a curtain of cascading water to the Devil's cave behind the falls. The return trip called Shooting the rapids is a thrill ride through fourteen rapids as the skilled boatmen maneuvers the boat through the narrow rocks as it head downstream.
Cavinti
It is also possible to hike the falls from the town of Cavinti, Laguna. The municipal government of Cavinti established the Pueblo El Salvador Nature's Park and Picnic Grove, originally known as Cavinti Eco-Park, in Brgy. Tibatib on February 24, 2007 to capitalize in the popularity of Pagsanjan Falls, which is within the boundaries of the town.[11] A few small falls are located upriver by hiking from the park. The topmost stage of Pagsanjan falls, known as Nakulo Falls, can only be viewed from the view decks of the park. Only the top of the middle falls is visible from the park, the hidden second drop can only be viewed from the raft ride from below. To reach the main falls, one has to go down a steep steel ladder, which in one section goes vertically straight down. The raft to the falls and the 'shooting the rapid' boat ride are also available from the park management.
Looking for more adventures, read about:
Hundred Islands
Mt. Batulao
Pagsanjan Falls (indigenous name: Magdapio Falls) is one of the most famous waterfalls in the Philippines. Located in the province of Laguna, the falls is one of the major tourist attractions of the region. The three-drop waterfall is reached by a river trip on dugout canoe, known locally as Shooting the rapids, originating from the municipality of Pagsanjan. The falls can also be reached from the top by a short hike from Cavinti. The boat ride has been an attraction since the Spanish Colonial Era with the oldest written account in 1894. The town of Pagsanjan lies at the confluence of two rivers, the Balanac River and the Bumbungan River (also known as the Pagsanjan River).
Location
The main falls of Pagsanjan are actually located within the boundaries of Cavinti, Laguna, but the more popular access by canoes originates from the town of Pagsanjan. A unsuccessful move by the ruling body of the town of Cavinti was submitted to the Sangguniang Bayan (legislature of municipalities in the Philippines) on February 10, 2009 proposing the renaming of the falls to Cavinti Falls.
National Park
The falls and gorge were declared as a National Park with Proc. 392 on March 29, 1939 and Proc. 1551 on March 31, 1976. The Pagsanjan Gorge National Park covers an area of 152.64 hectares (377.2 acres).
Legend
According to history, the Pagsanjan Falls is rich in legendary lore. Long, long ago, recounts one legend, there were no falls. There were only the foliaged highlands, the twin rivers called Bumbungan and Balanac, and the alluvial delta where the town of Pagsanjan now nestles. On the eastern bank of the Bumbungan River lived two old brothers named Balubad and Magdapio. For many years, the two brothers enjoyed a rustic life of peace and happiness. But one day calamity struck. A terrible drought brought ruin and death; no rains came for successive months. The soil became dry as tinder. The blooming flowers and food plants withered and died. The birds, deer, wild hogs, monkeys, and other animals disappeared. The rivers, creeks, and mineral springs dried up. Not a single drop of life-giving rain fell from heaven.
Balubad and Magdapio suffered immensely. Day and night, they prayed for rain, but the gods did not heed their prayers. The older and weaker of the two brothers, Balubad, died of thirst. Magdapio, with a sorrowing heart, buried him on the slope of the mountain overlooking the river delta. This mountain is now called Balubad.
Left alone in a waterless world, Magdapio agonizingly trekked to the upper region of the arid riverbed. He reached the high rocky cliffs, after an arduous journey. But to his utter disappointment, he found no water.
"Ye gods!" he sobbed bitterly, "Where is the water?" In despair, he angrily hurled down his big cane among the rocks.
Suddenly, a spring bubbled on the spot where the cane fell. Rapidly it grew bigger. The fresh waters roared down the canyon walls, soon becoming a booming waterfall. Amazed at the miracle, Magdapio fell on his knees and thanked the gods. He drank the cool water until he felt new energy surging in his blood. Thus emerged the falls of Pagsanjan.
Access to the falls
Pagsanjan
The most popular way of reaching the falls is through the Shooting the rapids boat ride, which originates from any of the resorts along Bumbungan and Balanac Rivers. Two skilled and licensed boatmen takes one to three passengers on a wooden or fiberglass, long, narrow canoes to the falls, which could take more than an hour of paddling upstream depending on traffic and water level. The journey takes passengers through the narrow and verdant Pagsanjan Gorge lined with huge boulders, rocks and small waterfalls. The ride upstream ends in a natural pool below the falls where an optional raft ride takes visitors through a curtain of cascading water to the Devil's cave behind the falls. The return trip called Shooting the rapids is a thrill ride through fourteen rapids as the skilled boatmen maneuvers the boat through the narrow rocks as it head downstream.
Cavinti
It is also possible to hike the falls from the town of Cavinti, Laguna. The municipal government of Cavinti established the Pueblo El Salvador Nature's Park and Picnic Grove, originally known as Cavinti Eco-Park, in Brgy. Tibatib on February 24, 2007 to capitalize in the popularity of Pagsanjan Falls, which is within the boundaries of the town.[11] A few small falls are located upriver by hiking from the park. The topmost stage of Pagsanjan falls, known as Nakulo Falls, can only be viewed from the view decks of the park. Only the top of the middle falls is visible from the park, the hidden second drop can only be viewed from the raft ride from below. To reach the main falls, one has to go down a steep steel ladder, which in one section goes vertically straight down. The raft to the falls and the 'shooting the rapid' boat ride are also available from the park management.
Looking for more adventures, read about:
Hundred Islands
Mt. Batulao
